Gay Mitchell
Question:21 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which he intends to implement the human rights provisions of the British-Irish Agreement. [22053/98]
Written Answers - British-Irish Agreement.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:22 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has brought to Government the heads of a Bill to establish the Human Rights Commission as provided for in the British-Irish Agreement; and when legislation in this regard will become law. [24457/98]
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:46 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, made in relation to the establishment of the human rights commission as provided for in the British-Irish Agreement in view of the fact that it is now over eight months since the agreement was signed; if he will ensure that the legislation is published and enacted before the first anniversary of the agreement; when it is proposed to place the heads of the Bill before the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25085/98]
Dick Spring
Question:61 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the work taking place in his Department in relation to the human rights elements of the British-Irish Agreement. [22157/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 22, 46 and 61 together.
Under the British-Irish Agreement the Government has undertaken to further strengthen the protection of human rights in this jurisdiction. In this regard, my Department has been assigned the lead role. Arising from this, I established a new human rights division with responsibility for formulating proposals in regard to the Government's commitments in the human rights area as enumerated in the section entitled "Rights, Safeguards and Equality of Opportunity" in the agreement.
In addition, the former Tánaiste, John Wilson, has been appointed to conduct a review of services and arrangements in place, in this jurisdiction, to meet the needs of those who have suffered as a result of violent action associated with the conflict in Northern Ireland. This review is ongoing.
In so far as the question of incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into our law is concerned, the matter is to be examined in depth by a small group of experts from the main Departments involved. In this way it is hoped to examine the range of options that are open to us in this regard, particularly with regard to the legal policy issues and technicalities that inevitably will be involved in this complex area. I envisage that the work of the group should proceed as a matter of priority. It will, of course, have to take into account the work of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution as well as the recommendations of the Constitution Review Group contained in its 1996 report.
Work on the establishment of a human rights commission, with a mandate and remit equivalent to that of the proposed human rights commission in Northern Ireland, is continuing. As indicated in my reply to a question on 20 October 1998, I hope to be in a position to bring heads of a Bill to Government in the near future. It is my intention to have the Bill published as soon as possible thereafter and to have the commission established in the first half of 1999. With regard to the matter of a full debate on the Bill, the Deputies will recall my assurance in that regard in my reply on 20 October 1998.